Community Happenings – Friday September 29 – October 5, 2017

Events

The next meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be held on Sunday, October 1. Karl Hahn will be bringing the world to your doorstep, the easy way, or otherwise known as “Couch Surfing”. The program starts at 10:30 a.m. with a buffet breakfast available from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn’s Executive Tower, located behind the Holiday Inn’s Bay Tower on Beach Road.

A Joint Chambers Eastern Seaboard networking evening will be held at the Havana Bar, Holiday Inn Pattaya hotel on Friday, Oct. 6 from 6.00 p.m. – 9 p.m. (last drinks at 8.30 p.m.). Entrance cost is THB 500 for members and guests of participating chambers and THB 1000 for non-members and includes free-flow drinks and finger food. Cash payment at the door. For more information send email to [email protected].

The annual Chonburi Buffalo Racing Festival, one of the most iconic festivals of Thailand, will be held from September 28 – October 4 at the multi-purpose field in front of Chonburi City’s Municipal Office in Chon­buri city. The festival is one of the province’s highlight events and includes parades, beauty contests, food & craft fair and of course exciting buffalo racing. For more information, contact the Chonburi Municipal Office on Tel.038 283 449.

The 2017 Father Ray Foundation Charity Bike Ride will take place on the morning of Sunday, November 5. This family event will start and finish at the Father Ray Children’s Village, just past Lake Mabprachan on Siam Country Club Road. There will be just one distance, 35kms, and the route will tour around Lake Mabprachan and travel on through the surrounding countryside. Start time is 8:00 with registration open from 7:00 and a healthy breakfast will be served before the race. A free lunch will also be available. Entrance price of 500 baht includes a limited edition race T-shirt. For more details contact [email protected] or call 081 721 5949.

The Royal Thai Navy is hosting the International Fleet Review 2017 to mark ASEAN’s 50th anniversary since its founding. Over 40 modern warships and 10,000 crew members from 30 countries are expected to join the historic fleet showcase in Pattaya Bay from 13 – 22 November. The 10-day event will also include naval and air exhibitions, military parades and the Royal Thai Navy marching band performing along Pattaya Beach Road.

The Air Race 1 World Cup 2017 will be held at U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport from 17 – 19 November. This year’s event is expected to be the largest ever with more teams competing than in any other international tournament. Pilots attempt to cross the finish line first after eight laps of high-speed, low-altitude flying around a tight five-kilometre circuit at 450kph just 10 metres off the ground. Other special attractions held during the three-day event include the World Muay Thai Angels 2017, an aerobatics show and exhibitions of aviation technology and super cars.

The 2017Pattaya Boat Show will be held from November 23 – 26 at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya. More than 150 businesses are expected to showcase their products and services to an ever-growing number of people with an interest in the marine lifestyle. The 4-day event will feature exhibits and some exciting in-water displays. For more information, visit: www.oceanmarinapattayaboatshow.com.

The Bangkok Bank Cyclefest 2017 will be held from November 11 – 12 at Siam Country Club in east Pattaya. Riders can choose from a variety of races to take part in, ranging from 15.5km – 60km in distance. A cycling themed village will also be set up and will provide family entertainment. Entrance fees for riders range from 800-1000 baht. For more information visit webpage: https://bangkokbankcyclefest.com.

The inaugural Bang Saen Marathon will take place on Sunday, November 19 from a start point at the Bangsaen Heritage Convention Center. This will be Thailand’s first running event with a single distance and is expected to attract top athletes from both home and abroad. Entrance fee is 1500 baht. For more information visit webpage: www.BANGSAEN42.com.

A stamp market is held every Sunday from 10.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.at Rahnpintang Moe Kata Restaurant, Panji Place, on Soi Ponphraphanimit 7 (200m from the Bangkok Highway underpass). Here can you exchange stamps from the whole world. Call 089 091 3418 for more information and directions.

Dining

Yupin’s Restaurant in Jomtien Complex offers a fabulous 3-course menu (5 choices per course) for just 480 baht. Main course options include pork fillet medallions with green apple sauce, grilled red snapper with saffron sauce, pork chop with black pepper sauce, grilled chicken with mustard sauce or spaghetti with carbonara or bolognaise sauce. All include a wide choice of delicious starters and desserts. Yupin’s is also now taking bookings for Christmas dinner. There are several sittings spread out over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the first at 3pm, then 5.30pm then 8pm. For more information or reservations, call 038 250394 or visit website: www.yupins.com.

The Thai Garden Terrace Restaurant offers nightly dining presentations with different themed “all you can eat” buffets at the resort poolside: Monday – Italian buffet; Tuesday – BBQ buffet; Wednesday – multi-cuisine buffet; Thursday – German buffet with roasted pig; Friday – Thai buffet; Saturday – international buffet; Sunday – steak & skewers buffet. The buffet starts from 6 p.m., runs until 9 p.m. All this for just 399 baht net per adult and children under 12 get to eat for FREE (one per each paying adult) until October 31. What you see is what you pay, no additional service charges or VAT. For reservations call 038 370 614 or make your booking at www.thaigarden.com under “buffet reservation”. Thai Garden Resort is located on North Pattaya Road, 200 meters from the Dolphin roundabout and 200 meters before Tesco Lotus.

The legendary Somsakdi Restaurant has been in operation in Pattaya for almost 40 years. Proprietor and Chef Somsakdi is still cooking and running his amazing restaurant at 78 years of age. The menu is probably the largest in Pattaya, with 374 individual items. Each dish is in Thai with an English explanation underneath. Rather than be swamped by choices, let Somsakdi guide you. After all, who knows his dishes better than he? Somsakdi Restaurant, Pattaya Soi 1, tel. 038 428 987, 038 423 284, 038 429 869, limited parking plus on-street parking in the soi. Hours 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days.

The Bay Grill & Buffet at Dusit Thani Pattaya: Dine with a sea view and enjoy seafood and meat barbecue accompanied by Thai and international items from soup, appetizers and main courses to dessert for only THB 900++ per person. Free flowing beverage for additional THB 599++ per person. The Bay is open daily from 18:30 – 22:00. Call 038 425 611-7 ext. 2149 0r 2150 for more information and reservations.

Enjoy a magnificent steak and grilled BBQ buffet at Flames restaurant located at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya. Served every Monday night from 18.30 – 22.30 hrs and priced at only THB 1,299++ (subject to 10% service charge and 7% VAT) per person, the original “Cowboy night” buffet offers a wide variety of dishes including steak, polar fresh seafood, salad, desserts buffet and ice-cream, and enjoy dance shows by Carpe Diem, the best entertainers in the hotel, from 19.00 – 22.00 hrs. Flames restaurant opens from 18.30 – 22.30 hrs. For reservations, call 038 714 981.

Yamato Restaurant located on Soi Yamato has been around for more than 35 years and the soi was named after its oldest tenant. Just look for the Japanese characters on the blinds outside. You cannot miss it. The menu is pictorial, which is a must when trying a different cuisine/language. This is a restaurant to take a few people with you. The prices are certainly not over the top, and the quality is superb. Yamato Japanese restaurant, 219/51 Soi Yamato (13/1), close to Beach Road end, telephone 038 429 685 or 038 421 618. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner. On street parking (or do some shopping in the Avenue or Royal Garden Plaza).

Hotel & Spa Promotions

Serenity Hotel & Spa in Kabinburi offers some fantastic packages for golfers. 2 days 1 night stay with 2 rounds of golf at nearby Kabinburi Sports Club cost just 2,700 baht net per person (based on 2 golfers sharing). The package fee includes accommodation, 2 green fees and caddy fees, daily breakfast and free access to the hotel’s state of the art onsen spa. 1 golfer and 1 non-golfer can enjoy similar benefits for 3,500 baht total cost. Large groups also catered for. (For weekends add 1,000 baht). The Serenity Hotel & Spa in Kabinburi offers a tranquil getaway from the hustle and bustle of Pattaya. For more information, call 095 741 0020, email [email protected] or visit website: www.serenityhotelonsen.com .

Eforea Spa offers a deep relaxing massage using the power of aromatherapy oils and traditional Thai massage techniques followed by an exclusive half-hour choice of herbal hot compresses or hot stones placed on key energy points. Complete with a pressure point facial massage and de-stressing scalp treatment to maximize relaxation and a completely new body experience. ‘Pampering of eforea’ package is priced at THB 4,500 per person and THB 8,000 per couple for 2 hours and available until October 31, 2017. Eforea Spa is located on level 17 of Hilton Pattaya and open daily from 10am – 10pm. For more information call 038-253- 000 or email: [email protected].

Enjoy great music from Thomas Reimer, one of the most famous European Jazz guitarists, playing live every evening (except Tuesday) from 6.00 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Sugar Hut restaurant on Thappraya Road, call 038 364 186 for details.

Community Services

The North Star Library on Sukhumvit Road, north Pattaya holds regular Thai language classes Mon – Fri from 10.30 a.m. till 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. Cost of admission is 100 baht per session for library members and 200 baht for non-members. Private lessons are also available for 200 baht per hour. In addition, the library also holds Yoga training every Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. at the Father Ray Foundation. Cost is 1200 baht for 6 sessions (first session free). For more information, call 081 575 4854 or email [email protected]

Groups & Associations

Post 12146 of the Veterans of Foreign Warsof the United States of America (Ban Chang – U-Tapao, Thailand) meets the second Saturday of each month at 13:00 on the second floor of the Camel Pub in Ban Chang. If you are interested, please contact Membership Chairman Dan Morgan at banchang [email protected] or visit website: www.banchangvfwpost12146.org.

The Royal British Legion Thailand meets the last Saturday of every month from 2 p.m. at the Tropical Bar on Soi Khao Noi (Watboon­sampan near the Temple entrance) in East Pattaya. You do not need to have served in the Armed Forces to become a member and can join in the many social events arranged throughout the year. The Legion’s primary aim is the care and welfare of those who have served and/or their dependents. For general enquiries send email to [email protected] , www.rblthailand.org.

Al-Anon Family Group. For more info, call the Helpline 092 674 4109 or John 089 933 7227.

The Samaritans of Thailand English Help Line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support to the expatriate community. English-speaking staff, trained in crisis intervention will provide active, non-judgmental and empathetic listening services on the phone. All calls will be handled on an anonymous basis and are free of charge. (02) 713-6791.

Overeaters Anonymous – The ‘Up to You’ group meets Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road. Call Steve at 038-364-207(h) or 089-250-1359 (cell) for directions or more information.